CPC B29C 64/118 (2017.08) [B29C 64/20 (2017.08); B29C 64/386 (2017.08); B29C 64/393 (2017.08); B29C 70/16 (2013.01); B33Y 10/00 (2014.12); B33Y 30/00 (2014.12); G05B 15/02 (2013.01); G06F 30/00 (2020.01); B29K 2025/08 (2013.01); B29K 2063/00 (2013.01); B29K 2071/00 (2013.01); B29K 2077/00 (2013.01); B29K 2079/085 (2013.01); B33Y 50/02 (2014.12)] | 8 Claims |
1. A 3D printer for additive manufacturing a 3D printed part including a plurality of layers, the 3D printer comprising:
at least one printer head configured to be coupled to a supply of isotropic fill material and a fiber supply including a fiber tow;
a build platen configured to support the 3D printed part;
a motorized drive configured to move at least one of the at least one printer head and the build platen; and
a controller having an instruction file for controlling the 3D printer configured to operate the motorized drive and the at least one printer head to build the 3D printed part by:
laying only the isotropic fill material along a first toolpath that defines a perimeter of a first layer of the plurality of layers of the 3D printed part;
laying, separate from the laying of the isotropic fill material, the fiber tow along a second toolpath positioned closer to a centroid of the 3D printed part than the isotropic fill material along the first toolpath that defines the perimeter of the first layer of the 3D printed part; and
orienting an anisotropic characteristic of the fiber tow to follow a trajectory of the second tool path such that the first layer of the 3D printed part exhibits the anisotropic characteristic in a specific direction corresponding to the trajectory of the second toolpath,
wherein the trajectory of the second toolpath provides part strength in the specific direction and increases a strength-to-weight ratio of the 3D printed part.
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